As a civilization, we often have a difficult time visualizing the
miniaturization and transfer of tools from central places to the
individual.
One day, we will all be generating power, managing transmissions and
communication, creating materials and prints, capturing and processing
our own sounds and images, and running supercomputers - without
leaving our personal space.
Other changes will depend on larger changes in how we conceive of
society -- whether we will also all be maintaining our own information
policies, enforcing social and legal standards, overseeing built
infrastructure and initiating repairs, serving in notary and
encryption capacities, serving as independent financial bodies, and
providing physical security... all in our personal vicinity.
SJ